Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Wildlife Response Efforts

Deepwater Horizon Oil Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Wildlife Response Spill: Wildlife Response

EffortsEfforts

Heidi Stout, VMDHeidi Stout, VMD

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, IncInc

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Tri-State Bird Rescue & ResearchResearch

35 yr experience 35 yr experience responding to oiled responding to oiled wildlife around the wildlife around the worldworld

Drills, workshops Drills, workshops and contingency and contingency planningplanning

ClinicClinic

Incident BackgroundIncident Background

Off-shore rig Off-shore rig explosion 20 April 10explosion 20 April 10

Largest oil spill Largest oil spill response in hx of response in hx of USAUSA

Unique incidentUnique incident Geographic extentGeographic extent ReleaseRelease CountermeasuresCountermeasures

Gulf-wide Wildlife ResponseGulf-wide Wildlife Response

UAC ( aka “Robert”)UAC ( aka “Robert”) Sector New Orleans (aka LA)Sector New Orleans (aka LA) Sector MobileSector Mobile

MS, AL, FL (panhandle only)MS, AL, FL (panhandle only) Florida Peninsular Command PostFlorida Peninsular Command Post

Sectors St. Petersburg, Key West, Miami, Sectors St. Petersburg, Key West, Miami, JacksonvilleJacksonville

TexasTexas

Gulf-wide Wildlife ResponseGulf-wide Wildlife Response

Multiple states, multiple command Multiple states, multiple command postsposts

Species, trustee agenciesSpecies, trustee agencies Planning, operationsPlanning, operations State / local resourcesState / local resources MediaMedia Communication Communication

CountermeasuresCountermeasures

Resources at RiskResources at Risk

The habitats potentially impacted The habitats potentially impacted include more than 8,332 wildlife include more than 8,332 wildlife speciesspecies > 1,200 fish> 1,200 fish > 200 birds> 200 birds 1,400 mollusks1,400 mollusks 1,500 crustaceans1,500 crustaceans 4 sea turtles4 sea turtles 29 marine mammals29 marine mammalsSource: FL FWC

Sea TurtlesSea Turtles

Stranding networkStranding network On water opsOn water ops StrandingsStrandings NestsNests

RookeriesRookeries

RookeriesRookeries

Field OpsField Ops

Animal TransportAnimal Transport

Ambient tempsAmbient temps On waterOn water AirAir Purpose builtPurpose built ContractorsContractors

MediaMedia

Wildlife high profileWildlife high profile JICsJICs MessagesMessages TransparencyTransparency Unprecedented accessUnprecedented access Sensitivity to wildlife Sensitivity to wildlife

Four Oiled Wildlife CentersFour Oiled Wildlife Centers

FacilitiesFacilities

ManagementManagement EvidenceEvidence ProtocolsProtocols Co-located activitiesCo-located activities Best PracticesBest Practices Minimum StandardsMinimum Standards

LogisticsLogistics

DonationsDonations

CommunityCommunity GlobalGlobal DeclineDecline RedirectRedirect THANKTHANK

IntakeIntake

Herd HealthHerd Health

VentilationVentilation Housing densityHousing density NutritionNutrition StressStress Hygiene / disease controlHygiene / disease control

Paraprofessional ProgramParaprofessional Program

VolunteersVolunteers SourcesSources TrainingTraining SafetySafety Compassion fatigueCompassion fatigue

The UnexpectedThe Unexpected

NOGAsNOGAs

Baby PelicansBaby Pelicans

ReleasesReleases

Wildlife Response UpdateWildlife Response Update

Live oiled birds collected 2079Live oiled birds collected 2079 Released 1246 to dateReleased 1246 to date

Live oiled sea turtles collected 456Live oiled sea turtles collected 456 Released 397 to date; > 14,500 Released 397 to date; > 14,500

hatchlings released to datehatchlings released to date www.restorethegulf.gov Photos by: TSBR, IBRRC, FWC, LDWF, Getty Images, CNN, TIME, Photos by: TSBR, IBRRC, FWC, LDWF, Getty Images, CNN, TIME,

AP, ReutersAP, Reuters